Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/cilantro-lime-chicken/
Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs Recipe
With this recipe for Cilantro Lime Chicken, bring the bold flavors of your favorite Mexican restaurant straight to your kitchen! Chicken thighs are marinated with garlic, honey, spices, and fresh lime, fried in a cast iron skillet, and served with fresh cilantro.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs boneless and skinless
- 2 tablespoons oil avocado
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoons lime juice from 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro plus more for garnish*
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pound chicken thighs with a meat mallet until no thicker than 1-inch. Carefully trim any excess fat.1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Whisk together the oil, garlic, cumin, paprika, lime juice, lime zest, honey, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Toss in the cilantro and whisk until combined.2 tablespoons oil, 4 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon paprika, 3 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon grated lime zest, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon honey, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator or up to overnight. Flip the chicken halfway through marinating if less than an hour, and a few times if overnight.
- Heat a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Let excess marinade drip off chicken before adding it to the skillet. Place the chicken in a single layer, trying not to let them overlap. (The chicken will shrink down significantly while cooking, so it’s OK if they touch a little at the beginning!)
- Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for 7-8 minutes, flip the thighs over, and continue cooking, uncovered, for another 7-8 minutes. You’ll know the chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Serve immediately with additional fresh cilantro and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Fresh vs packaged: Whenever possible, avoid using prepackaged or old versions of items like lime juice, garlic, or cilantro.
- Juicing: Using a handheld citrus juicer is the easiest and most effective way to get the most out of every lime.
- Cilantro: Be sure to measure the cilantro AFTER chopping.
Nutrition
Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 341mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
